Bisons top Rams in non-conference action at Mosaic

The Rams’ 13 points all came in the second quarter, as Marc Mueller connected with Catlin Schneider for a 28-yard touchdown early in the period and foundLandon Buch from 10 yards out for a major in the last play before halftime.

Teague Sherman was the story for the Manitoba defence, coming up with three first-half interceptions including one in the end zone. Riley Coates led the Bisons on the ground with 44 rushing yards on six carries, while starting quarterback Cam Clark was 5-for-10 and ended up with 48 passing yards. Marc Paquette was also 5-for-10 for Manitoba and threw two touchdown passes, while Theo Deezar came on at the end and completed four of his five pass attempts.

Nick Evans was Manitoba’s leading receiver with three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Mueller was 12-for-23 for the Rams and ended up with a game-high 201 passing yards, but was intercepted three times by Sherman. Mark Coons was the U of R’s leading rusher with 48 yards on 10 carries, while Addison Richards had 69 receiving yards including a game-long 54-yard reception in the early going.

The Rams’ defence matched Manitoba with three interceptions, as Justin Edralin, Cody Kezama, and Kirby Kezama all had picks.

Manitoba scored the only eight points of the first quarter, as Clark found Brendon Bowman for a 14-yard touchdown late in the quarter to add to Bowman’s early punt single. A point-after attempt by Taylor Wandler following Schneider’s major was blocked, keeping the Rams two points back of Manitoba. Coombs’ electric return came just after Schneider’s score, giving the Bisons a 15-6 advantage, but Buch’s score as the second quarter ended cut Manitoba’s lead to 15-13 at the half.

Paquette did his damage early in the fourth quarter, first connecting with Evans on a 20-yard touchdown just shy of the two-minute mark. The ensuing onside kick was recovered 50 yards downfield by the Bisons, and that was quickly followed by Paquette’s 10-yard strike to Rhys Hansen to give Manitoba its eventual 29-13 margin of victory.

The Rams begin the Canada West schedule next weekend with a road game against defending conference champion Calgary, while Manitoba kicks off the conference slate on the road against UBC.